VEC recommends disease resistant rice hybrid
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) on Rice of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council’s (PARC) recommended EMKAY-H401 rice hybrid being disease resistant.
VEC evaluated eight rice hybrids and recommended EMKAY-H401, being the first locally produced rice hybrid, strongly adaptable to local conditions, of medium height, stiff stemmed and tolerant to lodging.
Highlighting the salient features of the rice hybrid Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed, Member, Plant Science Division, PARC and Chairman VEC said this variety matures about 22 percent earlier, is high yielder than variety IR-6 and moderately resistant to BLB, Blast and Stem rot diseases.
“Panicles are long with about 215 grains. Greater head rice recovery and better quality index than variety IR-6”, he added.
The chairman VEC said that the meeting of Variety Evaluation Committee was held to evaluate rice hybrids submitted by various private seed companies.
This hybrid was presented by M/s EMKAY Seed (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore, which was recommended by the committee for cultivation, whereas other research proposals were deferred due to certain weaknesses and deficiencies in the available data.
Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed appreciated the role of private sector for taking interest in the research and development of rice crop and for working in collaboration with public sector to enhance rice production in the country.